The Arizona Cardinals are preparing for the 2023 NFL season. Injuries have created a critical opportunity for their young cornerbacks to seize the moment and make an impact. As Week 1 looms, Coach Ryan Smith is looking to Garrett Williams, Max Melton and Will Johnson. Together, they’ll make for an enviable three-man rotation on the back end of that defensive backfield. The trio has a grand total of just 20 NFL starts among them. They are poised to make a world-altering difference as they settle into their new jobs.
Garrett Williams has been honing the finesse of the nickel corner position over the past two seasons. Now, he’s moving back to his natural position of outside cornerback. Those experiences, combined with his elite quick-twitch ability to get the information and process it fast, makes him a vital asset for the Cardinals. Against that backdrop, Smith has lauded Williams for his mental acuity, which is a critical quality of slot corners. Williams commented on the challenges facing young players in the league, saying, “It feels like all the odds are stacked against us. That’s just a challenge to us. Hit the field and let’s move.”
So far, rookie Max Melton is a breakout star of training camp. Regardless of the defensive alignment, he tends to line up as the opposite outside corner. His reading of the field, and especially of what’s going on pre-snap has taken a quantum leap. He’s learning when to see which defenders are dropping back and understanding what the offense is adjusting to. For Smith, Melton’s growth has given him hope of making an impact for his offense, and he is looking forward to creating better excitement on the field. “If we put up the film, put up the statistics, they’re going to respect us pretty quick,” Williams said.
Will Johnson, drafted in the second round by the Cardinals this year out of Michigan, has been making strides in training camp. He’s been working with the first team from the outset and showcasing the fact he can run with and man-up on NFL receivers. Given what we have seen already, there is cause for optimism. He has a chance to become an impact player in the Cardinals’ secondary, particularly as the season progresses.
Ryan Smith’s coaching style is described as detailed and technical, which Smith says is critical to shaping young cornerbacks. He stated that he feels like a teacher instructing multiple grades simultaneously, adapting his lessons based on each player’s capacity to absorb information.
“And for me as the coach…I feel like I’m a teacher that’s teaching ninth grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, and 12th grade because…I can go 101 and I can give you the bare bones and you can go out there and execute and play fast,” – Ryan Smith
Here’s how Smith described his approach. He creates a personalized information funnel for each player to supplement their overall development. “As you show that you can handle that information, now we can get to 202, 301, 401, whatever that is,” he explained. “So, it’s really on me to tailor the information to what that guy can handle.”
The absence of veteran cornerbacks due to injuries has opened up a pathway for these young players to step into critical roles. Ryan Smith acknowledged this shift, noting that while losing experienced players is detrimental, “Obviously, losing those two guys really hurts,” it provides an invaluable opportunity for emerging talent. Now look, I know the way that the room’s been constructed, it’s a golden opportunity for those young guys to really just shine, he continued.
After two seasons primarily playing in the slot, Williams has reintroduced himself to playing on the outside. He’s growing much more comfortable and he’s seen marked improvements in his delivery. His past experiences gave him a set of critical skills. Perhaps most importantly, it gave him the tools to pivot quickly in his new role.
As training camp moves into full swing, all attention is turned towards this promising trio. 2022 will be their first season piloting the defense’s most prominent roles. Each player adds their own distinct skillset that should help make the Cardinals more dangerous than ever.
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